Vol. XV. No. 362. 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



91 



SCIENCE AND COLONIAL AGRICULTURE. 



The appearance in Xatatr, the leading iJritish 

 scientific journal, of the following article reviewing 

 an editorial in the Agrictdturai News (September 

 11, 1915), is important from the point of view that it 

 shows that the scientific world at home follows and 

 realizes the importance of agricultural work in the 

 tropics. It will be seen that on one or two points the 

 reviewer differs from us. It is vmnecessary to comment 

 on these criticisms further than by saying that, the 

 points are such as are open to argument: — 



An article in a recent number of the Agricultural News 

 (Barbados) discusses the probable effects of the War upon 

 the organization of science from the Imperial point of view 

 in relation to industry generally, and in particular to Clolonial 

 agriculture, 'i'his subject ha.s been dealt with so exhaust- 

 ively on all side.s during tlie last twelve months that it would 

 seem impossible to advance any new ideas about it, but the 

 writer of the article selects two fundamental causes as 

 responsible for the state of affairs prevailing until recently. 

 He believes that the British character includes a keen 

 appreciation of mechanical invention, without any appreciation 

 of the scientific research underlying it. The second reason 

 is that science as a profession is considered by the older 

 universities and public .schools as lacking in the essentials of 

 refinement, and that this .social stigma deters able men of 

 good position from entering it. But this deduction is surely 

 incorrect; the true explanation lies in the fact that the prizes 

 . that science can offer are so meagre compared with those held 

 out by other professions. The social cpiestion is merely 

 a secondary effect. This aspect of the matter was referred 

 to by Sir William Tilden, speaking as a representative of the 

 Koyal and Chemical Societies at a deputation to the Govern- 

 ment a short time ago. 



While in the case of manufacturing industries individ- 

 ual enterprise in recognizing the true value of scientific 

 work, can, and actually has, achieved much, practically 

 nothing can be done in relation to agriculture without 

 organization. No single farmer can afford to employ 

 an expert to advise him on the .scientific cultivation of 

 his land, nor can any single .scientific worker, however 

 able, cope with more than a few of the varied prob- 

 lems that practical agriculture constantly presents. For 

 this reason agricultural science is, in most countries, much 

 more highly organized than any other of the applied branches. 

 We do not think there are serious grounds for the fear 

 expressed by the Agricultural News that in the general move 

 to help the manufacturer British and Colonial agricultural 

 science may be neglected. The Imperial Government seems 

 to be alive to the importance of encouraging agriculture in all 

 its branches within the Empire, and while some alteration of 

 methods may be necessary, it is unlikely that any permanent 

 reduction of scientific work will occur. 



It is interesting to learn that in the West Indies there 

 is the same lack of intelligent contact between the actual 

 producer and the scientific worker that is still too abvious at 

 home. There is also a need of moie frequent intercourse 

 between the agricultural experts, which is hindered by the 

 natural difficulties of communication among the islands, and 

 now almost hnpossible owing to the war. An optimistic 

 view is taken of the future; it is hoped that the brighter out- 

 look for science will attract more men of the best type, and 

 that in the renaissance of science throughout the Empire 

 agriculture will play its part. 



THE BEST CROPS TO GROW FOR PIGS. 



In connexion with the suggestion made in previous 

 issues of this journal that a larger number of pigs should be 

 raised in the West Indian islands, the information given in 

 Circular No. S (191.5) of the Louisiana State Univeristy and 

 Agricultural and Mechanical College is useful, and may be 

 briefly summarized. 



In Lousisiana most of our common provision crops are 

 grown during the summer, and many of these are found 

 suitable and profitable in the feeding of pigs. Sweet 

 potatoes have been found especially satisfactory. The writer 

 of the Circular considers these as pre-eminently the best root 

 crop for hogs for autunm grazing It is the firm conviction 

 of the writer that by means of a combination of sweet potatoes, 

 peanuts and cowpeas, the most profitable hogs in the United 

 States may be produced. Generally, in feeding peanuts, 

 it is the custom to add a small amount of corn in order 

 to balance the ration. An acre of peanuts in Louisiana 

 will feed eight to ten hogs for thirty days or more, when the 

 hogs weigh in the neighbourhood of 200 lb. As regards 

 cassava, the writers do not think that this is a very suitable 

 crop for pigs on the aver.ige farm, but to lend variety to 

 the feeding, there is no harm in planting a small area. 

 Cowpeas make exceedingly good pasturage for hogs. These 

 are usually planted in corn. Hogs may be allowed to gather 

 both the corn and the pea crop profitably if portable fences 

 are used. As regards pasture for pigs in Louisiana, the 

 writer strongly recommends Bermuda or devil's grass, which 

 is common in the West Indies. In Louisiana it is the 

 practice to plant tufts of grass and then sow broadca5t white 

 clover seed at the rate of 4 or .5 tt). per acre. Clovers do 

 not grow in the tropics, but it would be easily possible 

 to substitute some other leguminous plant which would 

 enrich the feeding value of the pasture and augment the 

 nitrogen content of the soil. 



While on the subject of the best crops to grow for pigs, 

 we may refer back to an article which appeared in this 

 •Journal, and more fully in the WeU Indian Bulletin, on the 

 production of pork and bacon as a new industry for the 

 West Indies. In this Dr. \Vatts states that it may be found 

 profitable to feed pigs on sugar-cane, but in any case there 

 are abundant lands for producing Gumea corn, pigeon pea.s, 

 sweet potatoes, cassava, beans and maize. The raising of proper 

 rotation of crops for feeding pigs is an important matter which 

 ought to receive careful consideration in the West Indias. 



Dr. Watts also calls attention to the fact, that there 

 are many by-products and waste products in West Indian 

 agriculture which might be used with advangtage in pig 

 raising. In the first place there is molasses, which is produced 

 in such large quantities that its disposal in a profitable way 

 is becoming increasingly ditticult. Another waste product of 

 sugar factories which may be used to great advantage as food 

 for pigs is the filter-press cake, which contains a considerable 

 quantity of protein and sugar. Attention may be called also 

 to the waste materials of arrowroot works, and the refuse 

 lime skins of lime juice factories which are readily eaten by 

 pigs; also to such materials as bananas, large quantities of 

 which are unable to be shipped; and to coco-nut by-products 

 and many other substances at present wasted. In conjunction 

 with coco-nut estates the raising of pigs ought to be found 

 especially convenient, for, as is pointed out in a recent issue 

 of Tropical Life, the animals can be fenced in, using the 

 trees as stakes, and there they can be fed on well drained 

 land under shade with abundant oil cake, a by-product of the 

 trees which shelter them. Altogether there can be no 

 question that there are great prospects before ijrganized pi" 

 production on tropical plantations. 



